Luke 8:8-10 (NIV)
8:8 Still other [of the same kind] seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop [design and intent of the sower], a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear [spiritual capacity], let him [personal responsibility] hear [ponder the parable and make appropriate application].”

8:9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

8:10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables[parables used to reveal truth (make it clearer) to those who wanted to understand and conceal it from those who only wanted to criticize/reject it], so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

Luke 8:11-15 (NIV)
8:11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

8:12 Those along the path [hard, packed path; heart made hard by the traffic of the world] are the ones who hear [“the message about the kingdom” (Matt. 13:19)], and then the devil [Satan] comes and takes [to rob/plunder] away [before person really understands it and has an opportunity to believe] the word from their hearts [heart represents soil; the place of decision], so that they may not believe and be saved.

8:13 Those on the rock [thin layer of dirt on top of solid rock, allowing no chance for deep roots that enable plants to survive] are the ones who receive [immediately and impulsively] the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root [superficial response to the gospel with temporary results; no inner conviction; no root means no fruit]. They believe [profess to follow Christ] for a while[temporary], but in the time of testing [pressure, affliction associated with accepting and following Christ] they fall [Gr. skandalizo: to stumble over] away [cf. John 6:66 re: crowds in Galilee who ceased to follow Jesus when He made demands on them] .

8:14 The seed [nothing wrong with either seed or sower] that fell among thorns [grow quickly, absorb nutrients, and choke out life] stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by [note the competing thorns] [1] life’s worries [undue cares/ concerns; preoccupations/distractions], [2] riches [cf. 1 Tim. 6:9 and Matt. 6:24; the good life; see 2 Tim. 4:10 re: Demas and his love for the world] and [3] pleasures, and they do not mature.

8:15 But the seed [same as the seed that fell on other soils] on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop [because of obedience to what he has heard].

Luke 8:16-18 (NIV)
8:16 “No one lights a lamp [small oil-filled lamps used to illuminate home] and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand [visible location], so that those who come in can see the light [dispels darkness; light enables others to see what they otherwise would be unable to see; those who possess the light are to transmit the light; Christ is the true “light of the world” (Jn. 8:12); believers cannot shine apart from Christ].

8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

8:18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen [to the Word of God]. Whoever has
[those who listen and understand the words of Jesus] will be given more; whoever does not have [those who fail to listen and understand the words of Jesus], even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”

Luke 8:19-21 (NIV)
8:19 Now Jesus’ mother [Mary (cf. 1:30-31)] and brothers [the other children of Mary and Joseph (cf. Mk. 6:3-4); Jesus’ half-brothers (cf. Matt. 13:55-56; Acts 1:14)] came to see him [Mk. 3:21 records that they thought Jesus was out of His mind], but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd.

8:20 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

8:21 He replied, “My mother and brothers [i.e., those closest to Jesus] are [note the binding nature of spiritual relationships…] those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”